Dr. Anthony Fauci invokes 5th Amendment, declining to answer questions at Senate hearing

Fauci, 85, had made several previous congressional appearances clashing with Sen. Rand Paul

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci said it pained him to do so, but that he was acting on the advice of his counsel. The move injects new drama into the lingering tensions between Fauci and Republican lawmakers over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and accusations he lied about the origins of COVID-19, which he denies.

Fauci was subpoenaed by the Senate's homeland security committee led by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has long had a fraught relationship with the now-retired infectious-disease expert. Fauci, 85, was making at least his 20th appearance before a congressional committee since the emergence of the coronavirus.

More to come